What do I really mean by eternal salvation? I think that the differing definitions has caused some confusion. Some may say it’s semantics, but it’s important at the same time to “be on the same page”.
So, eternal salvation. Does God REMOVE His gift? I do not believe so. Can we WALK AWAY? Yes.
To be assured of heaven after accepting God’s gift of salvation.
An exact definition is hard to nail down!
God’s gift of salvation is free, but there are requirements of obedience and continued repentance. There is a relationship to be built and there are consequences for disobedience.
We need to take grace into account, but I agree with one friend who stated that the “modern church” is preaching grace too much. There is a very harsh side to God; He’s not all loving and sweetness. I do not believe we are getting the whole picture of God that we could be from scripture.
So by eternal salvation, I think that I mean once you have accepted God’s gift, He will not remove that gift.
UNLESS. . . .
I am uncertain about whether or not we can totally give it back to Him, but I think we can. We can totally deny Him and what He has done for us and that I think is where the question is coming to a head. In my searching, this is the only place I see where we can “seal our own fate” so to speak.
There was a conversation about “screw ups” versus blatant, wilful sin. In my opinion, both can and need to be repented of and neither would send us to hell after our acceptance of Jesus as our personal Saviour.
I’ll leave this topic here for now. I’ll return with some scriptures at another time. Some of the verses will be ones I am still struggling with while others will be ones I claim.
Striving to learn and live God's purposes,
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